Environment – Page 3 – JESSICA BELLWOAR

U.S. Senate votes to renew Land and Water Conservation Fund

America’s most successful conservation program that protected Gettysburg, Valley Forge, and Flight 93 Memorial, has new life

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The U.S. Senate passed a public lands package yesterday that permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a historically bipartisan program that has funded projects in every Pennsylvania county and in all 50 states since its inception in 1965. The program, which expired last September, has supported everything from the expansion and maintenance of local parks and recreation centers to national forests, national parks and historical sites.

In Pennsylvania, LWCF has helped fund the creation and maintenance of more than 1,500 projects investing more than $315 million in the Commonwealth.

“Pennsylvanians want our parks, forests and recreational places to stay beautiful and well-funded,” said Jessica Bellwoar, Conservation Associate for PennEnvironment. “Thankfully we’re seeing movement on reviving this program, and we applaud the U.S. Senate for getting the job done and not letting it fall through the cracks.”

Since LWCF funding expired, public lands projects have lost more than $300 million in revenue. While the Senate bill that passed yesterday permanently renews the program, it does not fully fund the program at the initial $900 million a year levels.

While the vote passed 92-8, sadly, Pennsylvania’s Senator Pat Toomey was one of the only senators to oppose renewing the program. PennEnvironment applauded U.S. Senator Bob Casey for his longstanding support of LWCF and voting in favor of the proposal.

During the months leading up to and after the program expired, PennEnvironment collected over 5,000 petitions calling on Senators Casey and Toomey, and Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to permanently reauthorize the program.

To build support for reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, PennEnvironment also met with members of the state’s congressional delegation, garnered dozens of media stories on the importance of renewing LWCF, and ran billboards in targeted congressional districts calling on Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to lead on LWCF.

“We need to protect our public lands for future generations, and the U.S. Senate took a big step toward doing so,” said Bellwoar. “Now it’s time for the U.S. House to act and permanently fund America’s beautiful parks and forests.

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PennEnvironment is a citizen-based, statewide environmental advocacy organization working to ensure clean air, clean water, and protecting Pennsylvania’s great natural heritage. For more information about this and other PennEnvironment projects, visit www.PennEnvironment.org.

For a list of projects funded by LWCF, go to https://www.lwcfcoalition.com/.

Ten tips for reducing holiday waste

Published on PennEnvironment website, Dec 2018

Co-authors: Jessica Bellwoar, Celeste Meiffren-Swango

With the holiday shopping season upon us, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and buy more than we need, for our children and for others. Here are ten tips for how you can help reduce plastic pollution and other waste around the holidays:

1. Give the gift of sustainability. Don’t have an idea for what to get your loved ones for the holidays? How about a plastic-free starter kit? Durable travel mugs and water bottles, reusable grocery bags and food containers, silicone sandwich bags, and glass, steel, or bamboo straws are all great alternatives to their single-use plastic counterparts and can go a long way towards reducing a loved one’s plastic footprint.

2. Skip the plastic packaging where you can. When buying gifts, you can reduce your plastic footprint by avoiding gifts that are heavily packaged in plastic, especially children’s toys. Most of the time, this packaging can’t be recycled, so it will inevitably end up in the landfill or our natural environment.

3. Buy local. Shopping locally can help avoid all of the excess packaging and shipping materials from shopping online. Buying in person rather than online can also reduce the fossil fuels needed to transport your goods across the country– plus, you’ll be supporting a local business in your community at the same time!

4. Consider buying used or refurbished electronics. In the market for new electronics this holiday season? Consider buying them refurbished instead of new. Repaired devices can provide equivalent performance at much lower prices and help mitigate the environmental impacts of brand new devices. Just make sure to recycle your old electronic products and don’t throw them in the trash. Check out this online guide from our friends at PennPIRG to learn what to look for and what to avoid when buying used or refurbished electronics.

5. Consider buying other gifts used as well. Though it might seem less glamorous, there are a lot of things out there in perfect condition looking for a new home, and they can be found for lower prices while reducing waste. Swing by your local thrift shop, consignment shop, or antique store and see if you can find some hidden treasures.

6. Skip giving “things.” Who says that your holiday gifts have to be “things” at all? Giving memberships and subscriptions as presents can provide year-long benefits while avoiding the production costs of ever-more stuff. Or, go even more low-tech and hand out coupons for a date night or a home cooked meal. Not only is this less wasteful, the thought and creativity of this gift will be well-received.

7. Cook and bake at home. Cooking at home as opposed to ordering takeout or buying pre-prepared food can help save takeout packaging and is a fun thing to do over the holidays. After your meal, if you have a lot of food left over, consider donating it to a local food rescue organization or food pantry, avoiding food waste.

8. Save your gift wrapping. When wrapping– and unwrapping– your gifts, keep in mind that gift bags and wrapping paper can be saved and used again in future years.

9. Repair a loved one’s favorite possession. Another great gift option that actively helps reduce waste while ensuring the person getting the gift will love it is deceptively simple: repair what your loved ones already have. We all have a favorite jacket with a busted zipper or a pair of shoes in desperate need of a resole; instead of getting new items, helping to fix what’s already beloved is a no-brainer.

10. Give a loved one a membership to PennEnvironmet. Please consider giving your friends and family (or yourself #selflove) the gift of membership to PennEnvironment. We are working hard to reduce plastic pollution and fight waste every day: http://bit.ly/PAEHolidayGift

Wishing you a happy and sustainable holiday season!

After 52 years, program protecting Valley Forge, Gettysburg Park expires Sunday due to Congressional inaction

PennEnvironment Statement on Expiration of Land and Water Conservation Fund

For Immediate Release

Monday, October 1, 2018

[Philadelphia, PA] — America’s most successful conservation and recreation program is expected to expire this Sunday, September 30. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has protected some of Pennsylvania’s most iconic places over the last 52 years.

“While it’s likely that few Pennsylvanians have heard of this program, every Pennsylvanian has enjoyed the places it’s protected,” stated Jessica Bellwoar, PennEnvironment’s Conservation Associate. “From Gettysburg to the Delaware Water Gap to Ohiopyle State Park, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has protected the places we love. Now we call on Congress to protect the Land and Water Conservation Fund.” The Land and Water Conservation Fund’s legacy has protected iconic places as well as local open spaces that often serve as the backbone to Pennsylvania’s communities (For a full list of LWCF projects funded in Pennsylvania, click here).

LWCF has helped fund the creation and maintenance of more than 1,500 projects in Pennsylvania, investing more than $315 million in the Commonwealth since 1964. But the nation’s preeminent conservation program could now be left on the cutting room floor if Congress does not approve legislation to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. If the federally-funded program expires, much-needed conservation projects across the nation will suffer from lack of funding, protection, maintenance, and future acquisition of public land for recreational use.

“Environmental groups, outdoor enthusiasts, fishing and hunting organizations, and local officials are calling on Congress to move swiftly to resuscitate this program in the upcoming weeks before finishing the congressional session.” said Bellwoar. “”It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or Republican–Pennsylvanians from all walks of life, all political affiliations, and every corner of the Commonwealth can all agree: we all enjoy the outdoor places that make the state and nation great, and we want our elected officials to make sure that we can continue to protect them for our kids and grandkids to enjoy.”

Even in an era of hyperpolarization in politics, LWCF has always historically received strong bipartisan support. While there is broad bipartisan support on the Hill, as often happens in Congress legislators wait until the last possible moment to accomplish things. For example, just 2 weeks ago the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources moved forward legislation to reauthorize LWCF.

Pennsylvania’s top elected officials have pleaded with federal leaders in Congress to renew this cornerstone conservation program.

“Congress must act to save this important community development and conservation tool for states and local communities,” Governor Tom Wolf stated. “Our economy depends on strong and attractive communities for businesses and workers to move, stay, and grow. Congress needs to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund without delay.”

“Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry supports 251,000 jobs, generates $86 billion in wages, contributes $1.9 billion in revenue and produces $30 billion in consumer spending,” U.S. Senator Bob Casey said. “These recreation areas, as well as national parks, historic sites and trails, are economic drivers and allow Pennsylvanians to protect and preserve pieces of the state’s unique landscape. It is essential that Congress provides consistent and sufficient funding for the LWCF to ensure that these sites and others throughout the country can continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.”

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has funded over 40,000 projects across the United States since 1964 and allocates more than $900 million dollars annually to states. The money is collected from gas and oil royalties and no taxpayer dollars are used.

PennEnvironment will continue to work with our U.S. House and Senate members to get the Land and Water Conservation Fund permanently reauthorized as soon as possible so our parks stay beautiful.

Jessica Bellwoar collecting petitions in support of LWCF in Montgomery County in Neshaminy State Park (top). PennEnvironment Staff at Ohiopyle State Park, PA (bottom).

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Help to preserve our places of natural heritage

Photo Credit: Valley Forge National Historical Park in Autumn (VFTCB)

Letter to the Editor of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

Published 09/01/18

Dear Editor,

Labor Day is a special weekend for families, and many Pennsylvanians will spend time outside visiting the state’s scenic landscapes and national parks.

What many Pennsylvanians may not realize is that many of these important natural heritages have been preserved through a program called the Land and Water Conservation Fund. They include places like Valley Forge, Gettysburg and the Flight 93 Memorial in Somerset County. Locally, it has helped fund more then $1.32 million in protection and maintenance of Settlers Cabin Regional Park, Brentwood Borough Community Park and North Shore Park.

Unfortunately, without congressional action this fall, LWCF will expire and put many of the greatest places here and across the country at risk. For decades, LWCF has protected the places we love and cherish. Now we must protect LWCF.

I hope concerned citizens will call and email Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey and U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb and ask them to reauthorize LWCF this fall.

JESSICA BELLWOAR
Conservation Associate
PennEnvironment
Philadelphia, Pa.

PennEnvironment hosts waterways clean-up to demonstrate support for banning single-use foam

PennEnvironment News Release

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

For more information contact: Jessica Bellwoar, PennEnvironment, (610) 308-0868

Philadelphia, PA — Today, PennEnvironment hosted a waterway clean-up event with members of the Philadelphia and Delaware County communities to demonstrate strong support for reducing the plastic pollution that is harming our wildlife and health. Specifically, the group called on the PA Legislatures to pass a statewide ban on single-use polystyrene.

Polystyrene — what many people refer to as ‘Styrofoam’ — is one of the worst forms of plastic pollution and is often used in cups and take-out food containers. Every day Americans use and throw away more than 70 million plastic cups. This comes to 8 billion Styrofoam cups – excluding take-out containers and silverware – that end up polluting American waterways and coastlines annually.

The massive accumulation of plastic is exemplified by the Philadelphia Water Department’s removal of more than 12 tonnes of trash from the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers in 2017 alone.

“We simply can’t continue to produce and throw away plastic at this rate,” said Jessica Bellwoar, Conservation Associate with PennEnvironment. “Nothing we use for five minutes should pollute the Delaware River forever. It’s time to put our wildlife over waste and we urge our elected officials to take action and lead the way on this issue.”

Once polystyrene enters our waterways, it is easily ingested by aquatic wildlife. Scientists have found plastic fragments in hundreds of species, including 86 percent of all sea turtle species and nearly half of all seabird and marine mammal species.

“A Styrofoam container might hold our take-out food for only a matter of minutes, but it can take hundreds or even a million years for it to decompose naturally and in the meantime it clogs our local waterways and poses a threat to birds and marine life,” said Rep. Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery. “I’ve introduced legislation that would reduce the amount of Styrofoam polluting our environment, and I’ll continue to support ways we can reduce our impact on the world around us.” There are already 25 cosponsors signed onto the ban polystyrene house bill.

PennEnvironment - John Heinz Wilderness Refuge cleanup event - July 2019 - by PennEnvironment-24

“Across the country, polystyrene foam bans have passed in more than 200 cities and communities, and some companies have committed to phasing polystyrene out,” said Senator McGarrigle. “If they can do it, everyone can do it. I urge other elected officials to sign onto this legislation. We can’t outwait polystyrene. We have to act now.”

Plastics also pose risks to human health, attracting harmful chemicals including carcinogens, neurotoxins, and endocrine disruptors. Humans can ingest microplastics by eating contaminated seafood and by coming into contact with everyday plastic packaging. Much of the plastic waste in Philadelphia ends up on New Jersey and Delaware coast lines, where we fish commercially and consume seafood and fish contaminated with these microplastics.

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge Manager, Lamar Gore, referenced a statistic from earthday.org that puts our plastic dilemma in perspective. “Approximately 25 million tonnes of plastic packaging produced annually flows into our oceans, which is the equivalent of pouring one garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute. How do we approach this? Individually or as organizations, we can make changes from single-use plastics to reusable products. At the refuge, we are taking another step, as our Watershed Fellow, Kristofer Booker, with the Alliance for Watershed Education launches our Caretakers of the Creek Program today. It starts from the community.”

“Every year for over 30 years, Darby Creek Valley Association (DCVA) members and friends remove bags upon bags of plastic from the Darby Creek. According to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, there will be more plastic than fish in our ocean by 2050. Friends of Heinz Refuge and DCVA encourage everyone to take the plastic challenge and eliminate its use at home and support our legislators ‘ efforts to ban the most harmful of products.” said Jaclyn Rhoades, President of Friends of Heinz Refuge and Darby Creek Valley Association.

“Pennsylvanian constituencies are quite puzzled on why we haven’t taken stronger action to address plastic pollution. We want to see protections for our environment so future generations can grow up to enjoy our beautiful forests, lakes and streams.” said PennEnvironment’s Field Manager Mia Vega.

PennEnvironment has been knocking on doors in towns across the state to generate support for a statewide ban on polystyrene.

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PennEnvironment is a statewide, citizen-based grassroots environmental advocacy group, dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public and decision-makers, and help the public make their voices heard in local, state and national debates over the quality of our environment and our lives. For more information, visit www.PennEnvironment.org.